The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has successfully completed the base-platform critical design review (CDR) of the protected mobility recce support (PMRS) variant, developed by General Dynamics UK (GD) as part of the scout specialist vehicle (SV) programme.
Representing the first variant-specific CDR for the SV programme, the review covered the PMRS system architecture, including the physical architecture and software, its sub-systems, such as the running gear and suspension, and auto controls and propulsion.
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In addition, the CDR marks a significant step before the planned delivery of the first PMRS pre-production prototype this year. It also included extensive trials to confirm the PMRS’s specific design interfaces, including electronic architecture, towing and storage, and command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) equipment.
Specifically, the review confirmed the mine and ballistic survivability design, as well as verifying the human factors design, which included a full assessment of the ease of entry and exit from the vehicle and the positioning and user-friendliness of its systems.
General Dynamics UK land systems vice-president Kevin Connell said: "This successful base-platform CDR for the PMRS variant shows we are well on our way to delivering a best-in-class family of armoured vehicles that meet the requirements of future force 2020 for the British Army."
A full CDR for the PMRS variant, which will establish the final design for future production, is scheduled to take place in late 2014.
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By GlobalDataThe PMRS is expected to replace the UK Army’s Spartan armoured personnel carrier (CVRT) vehicle variant. It will be armed with a remote weapon station (RWS), and will be able to transport eight dismounted soldiers, IHS Janes reports.
The SV represents a tracked segment of the MoD’s future rapid effect system (FRES) programme, which aims to deliver a fleet of more than 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) to the UK Army.
GD secured the SV contract in March 2010 for the delivery of up to 580 units of scout and common-base platform variants of its Austrian-Spanish cooperation development (ASCOD) vehicle. This was followed by a £500m award for the demonstration of seven prototype vehicles in July of the same year.
Image: An artistic impression of the MoD’s scout specialist vehicle programme variants. Photo: copyright ©1998-2011 General Dynamics UK Limited.
